Brad Paisley's `Alcohol' the toast of country music

Country artist Brad Paisley has a big hit on his hands with his humorous new single "Alcohol." And everyone, it seems, is raising a glass to that.

"This is the perfect example of a song tailor-made to sing to a live audience, and preferably one wearing a lampshade," Paisley says with a laugh, calling from a tour stop in Iowa.

Written by Paisley, "Alcohol" has made a lightning-fast ascent of the Billboard country singles chart, and is currently at No. 5. The song is the leadoff single from his new CD, "Time Well Wasted" (Arista Nashville), the singer-songwriter-guitarist's fourth album.

"Alcohol" is swiftly shaping into this summer's blockbuster singalong anthem.

Raucous and filled with sly wit, "Alcohol" is sung from the perspective of booze personified:

"Since the day I left Milwaukee / Lynchburg and Bordeaux France / Been making the bars lots of big money / And helping white people dance."

The voice of booze

Paisley gives voice to booze itself ("I been known to cause a few breakups / I been known to cause a few births"), and includes a number of humorous observations as seen from the perspective of liquor ("I got blamed at your wedding reception / For your best man's embarrassing speech").

And in what is likely a first in the history of country music lyricism, Paisley even references literary giant Ernest Hemingway ("I helped Hemingway write like he did").

The bottle also bets the drinker that "I can make you put that lampshade on your head."

That's a wager that Paisley's audience has taken to heart. Fans have been showing up at recent concerts armed with lampshades to wear during the song.

"I'm watching the audience, and so many of them are holding up a drink, they could be drinking a Coke and they're holding it up," he says. "The song somehow seems to make the entire audience feel something in common. We're all out there together. We've all done it. We're all one big collective idiot. And there's nothing better than feeling that way."

The subject of drinking -- the good, the bad, the fun and the sad -- has been an enduring lyrical staple of country music. Paisley's previous hit duet with Alison Krauss, "Whiskey Lullaby," was a haunting tour de force about the tragic side of booze.

Looking for fun

Paisley is proud of that recording but did not feel compelled to try and repeat its success. "I felt we tackled the subject of alcoholism when we cut `Whiskey Lullaby,' and in a way that I don't think we could beat," he says.

With "Alcohol," Paisley wanted to write a fun song that showed the lighter, humorous side of partying. "I was not wanting to be preachy in the least on it," he says.

With three previous releases under his belt, Paisley, 32, has already had his share of commercial success. He has so far taken four singles to No. 1, has won a handful of Country Music Association awards and has sold more than 5 million records. With "Time Well Wasted," Paisley is likely poised for even bigger things.

"This album could put Brad in a similar place that Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith found themselves a few years ago, moving from point B to point A," says Wade Jessen. director of country charts at Billboard magazine. "I certainly see this as a potentially serious steppingstone in his career."

Paisley is a deserved contender for the superstar mantle. One of the standouts of modern country music, he's a young, contemporary artist with roots planted firmly in old-school tradition. He spent his early years as a member of the Jamboree, the venerable Wheeling, W.Va., radio barn dance show. It was there that Paisley routinely shared the stage with a roster of legendary guests, including George Jones and Roy Clark. That early grounding shows in Paisley's own music. "Time Well Wasted" is a sharply played mix of ballads and uptempo numbers.

In a nod to his musical heroes, Paisley includes the comedy number "Cornography," which features country titans George Jones, Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson.

"They got raunchier than we were allowed to put on this record," Paisley says, laughing. "They are larger than life icons, but they were able to joke around about that, and they didn't take themselves too seriously. I think some of that's been lost on our generation a little bit, and I'm glad to bring these guys back and do a little bit of that. I think it's healthy."

The touching spiritual "When I Get Where I'm Going" features ethereal harmonies from Dolly Parton. Paisley was moved by the participation of the iconic Parton, who came in on her day off to record the tune.

For the departed

"I recorded that song for my grandpa, my aunt, anybody who we all have lost," Paisley says. "Having Dolly be a part of it makes it so personal in so many ways, 'cause I think about my loved ones who have gone on. If they knew I'd cut that song and had Dolly sing it, they wouldn't believe it. My grandfather would be jumping up and down."